The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has reported South Korea had a record year at the box office in 2011. Total box office receipts came to a record KW1.23 trillion (US$1.1 billion) last year, up 7.4% from 2010. Admissions also rose to 159 million, up 8.7% compared to the year before.

Korean films took 52% market share, making it the first time in four years that they took more than half the market.

Export figures also went up for the first time in five years, with completed films making a total of US$15.8m, up 16.5% from 2010. A record 366 films were sold last year, beating 2008’s 361 films. Asia was the biggest buyer, accounting for 56.9% of sales, while Europe accounted for 22.2% and North America 10.5%.

On average, South Koreans saw 3.15 films last year, up from 2.92 in 2010.

For 2011’s box office rankings, Korean films occupied three of the top four spots, with <War of the Arrows>, <Sunny>, and <Punch> following <Transformers: The Dark Side of the Moon>.